BBC to drop F1 coverage after 2013...?

Described by our local TV outlet as "England's most prestigious summer music event".
I kid you not.

 

Bono style.

 

Respectfully disagree.
I think Humphrey does a decent job, Brundle can't be beat IMO, and I find their format is really good. What would you rather watch: Fox/Speed???? Puh-leeeeez.

I will conceed though:
- They appear to be McL fan boys but I expect no less from a UK network in supportting a team with history and having current relative success; just makes for better ratings. Bet you can figure out what team the Italian, Indian, and/or German media talks about extensively on their broadcasts.
- Not the biggest fan of EJ or Coulthard. One is way too flamboyant and argumentative, the other has the personality of a cardboard box. I'm sure you can figure out who is who.

 

+1

Please don't feed the troll

 

As for free to air:
- Nothing beats RTL coverage. BBC should take a few pointers from their German counterparts. They are biased to German drivers doing well ... but very respectful of the other teams and drivers
- Indian channels are superb giving coverage to even teams like Williams and HRT
- Italians are just like BBC and hence suffering in the same way
- Fox/ Speed combination is a disaster... but you would hardly call that free to air coverage.

My point is simple... F1 programming does not work for channels that alienate 90% of the fans to pander to the fanboys. Watching the BBC coverage makes you feel that there is only one driver and one team that matters.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/sports/autoracing/maneuvering-to-control-future-of-formula-one.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha27

 

Clearly you haven't watched the forum after the race, they talk about all sorts then.

 

The post race coverage on RTL is brilliant.... Knowing German does help.

The one time I was stuck in the UK over a race weekend and watched the race on BBC... all I heard was for 8 hours...
"Hamilton great Senna... Mclaren great... Senna... Hamilton... brilliant... Schumacher evil destroying his legacy... Hamilton is Senna... Ferrari want to destroy F1... Mclaren great... Hamilton Senna!"

Terrible fan boy coverage!

 

Update:

Cheers,
Ian
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93160

 

You're welcome

Channel 5 does have ad's though, right?

Do you reckon they'll hire the BBC crew, or go their own way? [Assuming the Beeb do indeed opt out of course - which I don't think will happen btw.]

Cheers,
Ian

 

Channel 5 doesn't really show any sport and no motorsport that I'm aware of, so I think they would have to hire some of the BBC crew. Particularly Martin Brundle who is basically part of the F1 commentary furniture.

I think the only way Channel 5 could afford to show F1 would have to go back to the basic way ITV showed it like you said.

 

Give it a year or two, and the BBC will drop their live broadcasts completely. Its inevitable now the wheels have started turning.

 

There is a petition for those (like me) who can't afford to pay £61 for each race.*

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/bbcf1

* Sky HD + Sports = £610 per year

 

Absolute madness right? £61 for each race (and if the BBC does eventually lose all live races like i predict, £30+ a race is still ridiculous)

The viewing figures for F1 in UK are going to drop substantially over the next few years, and i fear this could have a bigger knock-on effect then people might realise.

If people in the UK stop watching, Silverstone's attendance will also surely drop, which in turn could result in the race not being financially viable. Silverstone have massive debts, but were banking on paying them off due to having a long term contract to hold the race, that might all backfire!

But i think the biggest problem in the long term may be that whole motorsports industry in the UK could suffer if their is a dramatic reduction in F1 interest.

 

Signed it too

 

Sky coverage is brilliant. Reasonable and great value for money.

F1 and Sky will be a perfect combination!

 

I've been getting my races from bittorrent for the last few seasons. It is the BBC broadcast that is placed online a few hours after the race. I'm wondering if it is so easy to get because it is free to begin with? Will a pay channel broadcast become more difficult to find and download?